There are a few sensitive areas of input that we need to control IF a record is actually created AFTER user inputs their values - ie, full validation and transparant to the user.
We create a form based on the table, then put “dummy” fields.
These dummy fields have no dataprovider, then use the selectall() and getselected() functions in a method called by a “activate” button to select the text entered by the user, validate and then “paste” into the real field and dataprovider the form is based on. Worked great testing (using only text fields)…BUT doesn’t work when field is a combobox or based on a valuelist! 
Is there a way to select a named (yet no dataprovider) fields current set value using the DOM? I can’t find a way, and have tried several standard HTML DOM elements to try it.
This would be an AMAZING feature (if not available already, but I can’t find out how and it doesn’t seem possible from the “virtual columns” discussions I’ve found on here so far).
It would allow for unlimited input possibilties and flexible forms using methods to manipulate the data before saving.
As is, one of the virtual column methods must be used (and will not work with all field types, or requires calculations) - which complicates the solution and is a workaround - exactly the reason we’re trying to get rid of Filemaker!
Servoy SHOULD allow native access to a form value (via DOM or method call) regardless if its connected to a dataprovider.
Thoughts? Feature request? 
Anyone have elegant or simple solutions they use for allowing input, then processed, then inserted into new record if passes? I hate the default servoy “cannot save” when a database constraint is not fulfilled and therefore the record can’t save ( and an end user has no idea what field if any is not right).
Nolan M.
FSCI